Samsung SCX-1000S

One outstanding aspect of the HP G85 was its ability to print photographs, and using HP's Premium Plus Glossy Photo Paper it produced stunning results. The Samsung, while not nearly as impressive as the HP, still produced commendable results that were closer to the photo quality of the Lexmark Z52 but with a warmer and more natural colour balance.

The biggest criticism of the G85 was its disappointing scanning quality - a general criticism that has been levelled at multifunction devices previously, so it was surprising to find that the Samsung unit was actually quite impressive in this area. Scanning a photograph at 600dpi in 24-bit colour produced a sharp, detailed image that was rich in colour.

The flatbed scanner also doubles as a copier, which can be controlled separately from the PC or by using the SmarThru software. The front panel controls the basic options such as the resolution and number of copies, as well as giving access to more advanced functions such as N-UP COPY, which allows you to print N pages (either two or four) onto a single A4 sheet.

The Samsung SCX-1000S conforms to the standards previously seen with multifunction devices - jack of all trades, master of none. For £349, the Samsung should offer better printing quality, although the relatively high-quality scanner unit goes some way to make up for this. Running costs are also reasonable, but given that the HP G85 is only £79 more, the SCX-1000S isn't great value. Ignoring the convenience and extra features of an all-in-one solution, better quality printing and scanning can be had separately with both the Lexmark Z52 and the AcerScan Prisa 620UT (see Labs, issue 66, p124) for just £227.

Author: Gareth Ogden